" Which of you convinceth me of sin?" 2. The perfection of Jesus is seen in his personal consciousness of sinleaBneas. "Who needeth not," etc. Christ offered no sacrifice for himself. Ho always distinguished between himself and sinners. ., If ye [not' we'], being evil;" "I do always those things which," etc.;" I have glorified thee on the earth;" "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Christ knew be was holy, and that proves that he was; for confessedly he was, at least, the best of men, e.nd the holier a man becomes the more sensible he is of failure. 3. The perfection of Jesus is seen in the Father's endorsemene of it. " He was made higher than the heavens." Consider that in connection with Christ's claim to be sinless. His resurrection and ascension and enthronement are the highest pledge of the perfection he a~serted for himself. II. 'l'HIB PERSONAL PERFECTION WAB NECESSARY TO CO::,;fSTITUTE A PERFECT ffiGH PRIEST. "Such a High Priest became us." Our needs are beyond the help of any one less. 1. The first funcLion of the high priest was to offer sacrifice. Then observe how Chrisfs holiness perf,cts him as a Sacrifice. He could not have atoned for others if he had sins of bis own; but the offering of the Holy One bad an inestimable worth. 'l'hat, at least, vindicates the Law, and pays the sinner's debt, however great. 2. The next function of the high priest was intercession. Then observe how Christ's holiness pe1fects him as an Intercessor. \V c can trust in no mediator till we know he is on good termR with the king. Because Christ is the Holy One of God, he has perpetual access to the Father ; his will and the Father's are the same, and the Father delights in grant- ing his request. Jesus can never be refused. 3. The third function of the high priest was to instruct. 'l'hen observe how Christ's holiness perfects him as a Teacher. It is in his holiness we learn what most of all we need to know-God's will about us. We look at Jesus, and there it is. Moreover, looking at him produces the same holiness in us, for looking we become like. III. Tnus PERFECTED, CHRIST IS DECLARED BY THE DIVINE OATH TO BE Hroa PRIEST FOR EVER. 11 The word of the oath," etc. Notice how many perfect things aro set forth here. 1. A perfect Sacrifice for sin. "By one offering he bath for ever," etc. 2. A perfect High Priest to impart the benefits of that Sacrifice. Our tendency is to dwell on Christ's earthly life,. or on his death; but the Epistles dwell most on his present life. And that is the view of our Lord he desires us to keep most prominent • •• I am he that liveth," etc.; "Therefore he is able to save," etc. 3. A perfect promise that Christ will do all this. "Will," for all who will let him, for all" who come unto God by him," i.e. for all who take him to be their High Priest. God pledges his oath for that. How needlessly men are lost I They are not called to risk their soul on a trifle !-C. N.
Vers. 1-3.-Melchizedek a typical priest. The inspired writer now resumes his con- sideration of Melchizedek as a type of our Lord as Priest, and notes the fact that he stands in Old Testament Scripture quite alone, and has no genealogy which informs llil from whom he sprang, and has no successor to whom be hands over his priestly oflice. As far as Scripture narrative is concerned, he "abideth a high priest continually." The typical resemblances between Melchizedek and our Lord are- I. THE SUBLIME SOLITARINESS OF THIS PRIEST. He stands alone as the servant and minister of the most high God, and while the Jewish priests appear like the colu_mns of a temple, Melchizedek rises as an obelisk, which by its loneliness attracts attention and awakens thought. Our Lord is, in his office, foreshadowed by this ancient priest; for he stands alone, and has had no predecessor, end will have no successor as High Priest over the house of God. II. THE UNIVERSALITY OF BIS OFFICE FINDS ITS COUNTERPART IN JESUS CHRIST. Mclchizedek was a priest for men as men, and before the separation of the race into the two classes of Jews and Gentiles. The successors of Aaron were limited in their minis- trations to the twelve tribes of Israel; but the Redeemer is the Priest for the race of mankind: "for with him is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free, and there is neither male nor female." III. THE INTEREST DISPLAYED BY MELCHIZEDEK IN THE AFFAIBS OF WORSHIPPERS. Abraham had pnrsnrd the kings who had taken captive the family of_ Lot, and _carried off much spoil from the inhabitants of Sodom. On his return the priest met him and !,is wearied troop with bread and wine, and blessed the patriarch in the Name of the most high God. In like manner our Lord bas nn abiding interest in his worshippers, 202 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE llEilREWS.
whom he delivers from evil, rnaint11ins in spirit1111l vigonr, and blesses with his refresh• mcnts nnd Divine approbation. As Molchizcdek blessed Abrahnm, so our Lord at hie departnre from the world lifted up his hands nnd blessed his disciples, and has ever since blessed his followers with needful grnce and supplies of spiritual power. IV. 'fHE BIG1'--YFIOANOE 01r llIELCHIZEDll!i:'S NAMES IS REAJ.IZED IN CHnIST, 1. Ott!' Lord was "the King of righteousness." 'l'his was verified in his personal life, in which he fulfilled all righteousness, and "In his life the Law appears Drawn out in living characters." He preached righteousness in the great congregation, and everywhere enforced H by the sanction and authority of his Father in hea,·cn. He urged the claims of ri"hteousness upon thought, word, and act; in the synagogue and the temple, and in all the inter- course or life. His death realized the idea of eternal righteousness in the condemnation of sin, and the provision of a way of salvation in which God could" be just, and the Jus- tifier of him that bclieveth in Christ." All his subjects were to bo righteous, and he led them to look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness should for ever dwell. 2. The 11 ext title which Mekhizedelc bore was" King of peuce," and this was realized gloriously in tl,e Saviour. His Divine ministry produced peace by giving repentance, which is the rejection of unholy and rebellious thoughts, and our reconciliation to the thoughts of God. 'l'hen comes peace through his blood. 'l'here is peace from the con- stancy of his superintendence of his people, and the certainty of bis efficient interest in their daily life, whereby he makes all things work together for their good. He will lead them forward until their peace shall be as a river, and their righteousness as the waves of the sea. He is our Peace, who brings men of all nations to the fold on the eternal hills, and there shall be one flock and oue Shepherd.-B.